Council authorizes police vehicle purchase and hears proposed fire‑watch fee increases

The Village Council reviewed and advanced two public‑safety items on Sept. 24. Under a Bergen County cooperative contract, staff recommended purchasing a Chevrolet Tahoe from Pellegrino Chevrolet of Westfield, N.J., with a not‑to‑exceed price of $57,785.24. The vehicle will replace car 38 as a frontline vehicle; staff said frontline vehicles typically serve 5–6 years as primary response units and then additional years as backups. An online attendee, John Judge, described vehicle usage and confirmed hybrid or plug‑in hybrid options had been evaluated and found unsuitable for this vehicle’s first‑out usage.

Fire Chief John Judge presented proposed increases to the village’s fire‑watch fee schedule effective January 2026: application fee from $20 to $25; administration fee from $20 per hour to $25 per hour; and firefighter hourly rate from $55 to $65. The chief said the village’s proposed rates would remain at or below many comparable municipalities.

Council discussion covered expected lifecycle for frontline apparatus, alternatives such as hybrid models for future purchases, and the public safety role of fire‑watch services (temporary staffing at buildings with impaired sprinkler systems). Final adoption of the fee changes will follow the ordinance/resolution process required for fee schedule amendments.